Hi...Here are more paintings for you to enjoy. Class this term didn't really have a challenge...but to maybe paint large. We had the room this term, but not the time, as this term we had only 4 weeks instead of 5 weeks. Michael took the challenge to heart and painted really large....I forgot to measure, but it had to be at around 3 x 4 feet?

I'll be out and about during this 2 month break...but the class hopes to meet and paint together...I think that shows a great group of fellow painters and friends. Have a great time. I'll see you again when Fall Term starts.

Michael:

Mary:

Kathy:

Byrnie:

Views:...3,995....USA, China and Mexico.

                           Featured Artist

Here is Art Bits 2nd Featured Artist. Colette has been a student with me from the Beginning Class to some years now as an Intermediate Artist/Student. I enjoy her artwork and I hope you will too.

Colette  Fleck

"I'm originally from Northern California and spent much of my youth participating in the arts, including music and painting in High School and College. I finally retired three years ago after 35 years working with social service programs. I'm having a lot of fun re-learning how to paint. Here are some things I've done recently and not so recently. I'm hoping to recapture some of the fearlessness I had in my youth".

            

Poppies: 1977

             Pigeon barn: 1980

Horse Mt...acrylic 2008

Pear

Ruby  2014

Cave-Willow Creek   2014


McCloud  2014

Salamanca

                                    Cave on Willow Creek  #1

Blog Views: This week so far...3858 views...from: USA, Russia, Belgium, France, Germany, Lithuania & Ukraine.

Plein Air:
A few weeks ago, my Plein Air class went out to paint along the lake. It was a little windy and cool and most stayed the whole 3 hours. Below are some photos taken that day....sorry I didn't get photos of everyone's paintings.

General Photos:

Liz:

Watercolor

John:

Watercolor

Mary:

watercolor

Karen:

Watercolor

                          Class Challenge
             Viewers....Hold Onto Your Hats
              You Are In For a Visual Treat

"Copy Another Artist's Painting Challenge"
The painting challenge I presented to my Intermediate Students, as an educational learning experience, was to copy another artist's painting. Much can be learned by copying brushstroke by brushstroke from a painting....observation, brush control, color mixing etc.  I remember my days of copying a master's painting when I was getting my art degree.

Each student understands that this challenge is for their education...and that they can never sign their name, show or sale this challenge painting....but, they can enjoy...as you will.

Below are their "Copy Another Artist's Painting Challenge" masterpieces.

Michael:  Remember Michael as the First Featured Artist (May 9th posting)...here is his                                 "Copy Another Artist's Painting Challenge" painting.

Original...Leonid Afremov

Michael's copy....acrylic (unfinished)

Mary:

Original...Winslow Homer

Mary's copy...watercolor

 John:

Original...Joseph Lo

John's copy...watercolor

Original...Rachel Collins

John"s copy...watercolor

Maurean:

Original...Soon Young Warren

Maurean's copy...watercolor

Jean:

Original....Wolf Schenke

Jean's copy...acrylic

Stephanie:

Original...Iain Stewart

Stephanie's copy....watercolor

Hi...I tried a new product...new for me...and I'm not endorsing it and nor am I getting any perks or returns for mentioning it. I thought it sounded interesting, it was on sale and it had free postage...so the time was right to give it a try!!...and I wanted to present it to my Intermediate Painting Class.

The product is Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground. It comes in white, buff, black and transparent. It states that it can be: 
"brushed onto anything, let it dry overnight (24-72 hr), and you have a surface that behaves like watercolor paper and holds pigment beautifully. It's soft and absorbent, with a cottony texture similar to cold-pressed paper."

It also says that if you have a section of a watercolor painting that you do not like...just paint on the white ground, let it dry, and then correct the mistake and you have "saved" your painting. See my sample #2 below.

Sample # 1:....What I did was laser printed the map of Italy, glued it to watercolor paper  and then brushed on the white ground in a specific area (photos below). I did paint on it before the 24 hours was set (but it was close). It kept the background from showing through the watercolor painting. I did have some bleeding. I will next time, use a foam brush to apply the ground, as the brush left brush marks, not a smooth surface.

Sample # 2...A Plein Air painting (painted on location)  I didn't like the first canoe...so I painted the white ground over the canoe and repainted it. I can see where the ground was painted around the canoe.. The blue didn't seem to cover.  Again...more practice is needed.

Sample # 3...Again I have my Italy map and I painted the transparent on in the general area as I painted the white. It is definitely hard to see where the transparent was applied. Perhaps...just paint the whole area with the ground and not have to worry where it starts and stops. If you paint watercolor on the untreated map paper...the water can stain it.

So, if you decide to give this product a try...write back of your experience.  

Sample #1:

White Ground

Watercolor painted over White Ground

Sample # 2

White Ground painted to correct a painting. Can still see the ground around the canoe

See the lighter area top right of canoe and in front

Sample # 3:

Transparent Ground

Transparent Ground...can sort of see the brush strokes and feel the area it was applied

Watercolor Painting on the Transparent Ground. I love how the map lines show through...looks like cracks in the walls.

Hi...I'm on Spring Break..finals are graded and posted. I had a great academic watercolor 1 class and as always, my Intermediate group was great.

We are having cold weather, but the sun is out and I have hopes to get a lot done these next few weeks before Spring Term starts. Maybe a little painting, house repair, yard work...oh, it doesn't end !!!

Challenge:

Again, the Intermediate Art Class had a challenge photo to work from. Liz, donated her photo she took while in Puerto Rico. It was a great reference with so many ways it could be interpreted.  Enjoy.

I didn't get one painted....maybe during Spring Break !!??

Photo of El Cerro, Puerto Rico

Liz:

Kathy:

Cindy:

 Maurean:

 John:

Chuck:

Michael:

Colette:

Doral:

 Rodney: